The Rundown: Things to Do Thursday, August 16 – Sunday, August 20

What’s the word everyone? Happy Thursday to you all. We have zoomed through this week but now it’s time to cool out and relax with some fun in the sun this weekend! As always, your brother, The Black Ferris Bueller keeps you up to date of all the beats in the QC streets, and this weekend is looking really dope as always! If you want to know where I’ll be, follow me on my “Hot List” just below!

If you would like your event to be listed in “The Rundown” please send a detailed e-mail to me at: sdallison85@yahoo.com

——-THURSDAY, AUGUST 16——-

Start your weekend off with some lights, camera and activism as the 100 Words Film Festival presents a special discussion entitled Ambassadors of Charlotte’s Film Festivals! Come enjoy a FREE film seminar made possible in part with funding from the Arts & Science Council! The 100 WFF is honored to have a panel of ambassadors from various film festivals in Charlotte, who will be there for a Q&A. Panelists include: Tre McGriff – CineOdyssey Film Festival, Diane Restaino – Joedance Film Festival, Will Fisher – Charlotte 48 Hour Film Project and Jeff Turk – Charlotte Jewish Film Festival. Carpe Diem will be catering complimentary food as well. All ages are welcome. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Google Fiber Charlotte. 301 E. 7th St. in Uptown.

Celebrate the musical tradition of the Historic West End with local artists and JCSU student musicians for fifth revolution of a live throw down entitled Beats & Bars Jam Session No. 6! Bring your friends and family out for night of great music while learning more about Soul Junction, a two-day music festival hosted in the Historic West End. This showcase of electric jazz, soul, and funk will be led by acclaimed Charlotte multitalented Renaissance man Quentin Talley and funky drummer Tim Scott, Jr. Admission is FREE to attend but please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soul-junction-bars-beats-jam-session-no-6-tickets-48129807550. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at the JCSU Arts Factory. 1545 W. Trade St. near the JCSU Main Campus. #WestSideBestSide

Dapper Street Productions returns to kick off your weekend with an all-new feature, Piano Jazz: The Intimate Series! Join the alluring vocalist Nicci Canada as she pays homage to jazz legends and current contemporary jazz artists, spotlighting their influences and contributions to the world and jazz culture. Admission is FREE to attend and all ages are welcome to attend. This event is sponsored by the Arts & Science Council’s Culture Blocks Initiative. The performance will begin at 6 p.m. at the Sugar Creek Library. 4045 N. Tryon St.

The fine folks of Abari Game Bar invite you to their Pig Out BBQ this evening! Bring your friends out for an evening of nonstop fun with wings, BBQ, vegetarian/vegan options, cocktail specials and video game play! Admission is FREE and the event will begin at 6 p.m. Abari Game Bar is located at 1721 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.

This evening, join Charlotte Black Film Festival, ASC Culture Blocks and the Historic West End Initiative as they host a special screening of “The Art of the Journey: The Ben Jones Story.” NJ-born, Professor, Activist, Artist Ben Jones has used his art to bring awareness to the plight of people throughout the world, Ben began his art journey many years ago. As a young man during the Civil Rights Movement, Ben consciously began to develop as a social activist whose art spoke out against the pressures of that time. Within this documentary lies educational tools to many youth to use their abilities to represent something greater than themselves. There will be a discussion following the film and refreshments will be provided. Admission is FREE but please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-activism-screening-the-art-of-the-journey-the-ben-jones-story-film-food-conversation-tickets-48049977777. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at the Beatties Ford Regional Library. 2412 Beatties Ford Rd.

For some more cinematic magic this evening, head over to Camp North End for a special screening of the documentary “She Did That.”Renae Bluitt’s first cinematic project, ‘She Did That.,’ explores the passionate pursuits of Black women and their entrepreneurship journeys. An extension of Renae’s In Her Shoes blog, ‘She Did That.’, this film offers an intimate peek inside the lives of four Black women entrepreneurs who continuously raise the glass ceiling for future generations. What drives Black women to turn their obstacles into opportunities and passions into profit? “’She Did That.” seeks to answer this question with the goal of inspiring the next generation of change agents. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/she-did-that-charlotte-screening-tickets-48327997341. The event will begin at 6 p.m. Camp North End is located at 1824 Statesville Ave.

Take a musical ride down to the land of ATL and join rising local MC Nige Hood as he hosts “TIPSY: A Tribute to T.I.” this evening! Nige Hood will set things off along with the lovely DJ SPK of The Block 92.7 with a special sonic tribute that is fit for the King of the South with a royal playlist of T.I.’s hits, remixes, album cuts and collaborations. It’ll be an evening of classic music, good food, fellowship, vendors, giveaways and much more! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tipsy-a-tribute-to-ti-tickets-47807366119. The jump off is at 8 p.m. at Recess Charlotte. 832 Seigle Ave. in the Belmont Neighborhood.

Jazz Arts Initiative returns for the month of August and this weekend, come experience another episode of The Jazz Room as Brice Wilson plays homage to Dexter Gordon! Known in the jazz world as the first to translate the “bebop” sound to the tenor saxophone, Dexter Gordon’s career as a Blue Note recording artist is highly noted by jazz innovators. Brice Winston received his musical training at the University of New Orleans, and in his career has recorded with world-class musicians like Herbie Hancock and Dave Holland, as well as performing around the world in the jazz club and music festival scene. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.carolinatix.org/events/detail/the-jazz-room-at-the-stage-door-theater-9. There will be four performances this weekend: Friday (8/17) at 6 and 8:15 p.m. and Saturday (8/18) at 7 and 9:15 p.m. All shows will be held at the Stage Door Theater which is located on the corner of E. 5th St. & N. College St. in Uptown.

Get ready for some more community fun as Black Business Owners of Charlotte (BBOC) invites you out to another installment of Black Food Truck Friday! Bring all your friends and family out for an evening of fun as you dine from some of the city’s finest and most delicious Chocolate culinary chariots, scoop up some cool fashions and trinkets from local vendors, have chances to win cool prizes and get down on the good foot to the sounds of DJ Steel Wheel! Admission is FREE and the event will begin at 6 p.m. at Firehouse Bar & Lounge. 320 W. Carson Blvd. near Uptown. #BBOCLT

One of Charlotte’s most beloved community hangouts is turning three and this weekend, the good people of Tip Top Daily Market invite you out for their Tip Top 54 Dancing Party! To kick off the celebration, bring your dancing shoes and come boogie with Sweet T-Ravis and Flock of Slagles who’ll be providing all the jams! There will be a dance contest and prize from local costume shop Stash Pad for the winner. Admission is FREE and the get down starts at 8 p.m. Tip Top Daily Market is located at 2902 The Plaza Rd. in the Plaza-Midwood District.

Get ready to cut loose this Friday as OutenLove Events, Mr. 305 Events and High Society CLT proudly present Karaoke Game Night this evening! It’s some new flavor with a funky twist as you try sing your sober or sloshed hearts out with karaoke songs, play a wide variety of games and party into the night with a special guest DJ rockin’ out all the dope tunes of today and yesteryear! Admission is FREE with RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/karaoke-game-night-tickets-47953479147. The event will begin at 9 p.m. at Recess CLT. 832 Seigle Ave. in the Belmont Neighborhood. #OutenLoveEvents

What’s the perfect edition to a beautiful Friday evening? Music! If you want a strong dose of it, head down to Stats Restaurant & Bar for Euphoria Fridays! Gather your crew, colleagues and older cousins and come relax to the sounds of Hip Hop, Neo-Soul, R&B and House grooves from my brothers DJ FoundACEtion, Concrete Kash and DJ Chance! Your host for the evening is Charlotte’s Finest & Cece McFly. Admission is FREE to attend and there will be cocktail and meal special running all night long. The relaxation starts at 9 p.m. Stats Restaurant & Bar is located at 3425 David Cox Rd. in the Northlake Area.

——-SATURDAY, AUGUST 18——-

Bring the family out to Discovery Place Science this morning for and informative and interactive workshop entitled “A Day in the Life: Integrative Therapies” this morning. Join the staff from Atrium Health’s Integrative Therapies department to explore different therapeutic approaches. Integrative medicine is a type of care that seeks to address the full range of physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual and environmental factors that influence a person’s health and well-being. Some of the teams that will be visiting Discovery Place Science include pet therapy, music/art therapy, aromatherapy, and healing touch/Reiki. Tickets can be purchased here: https://science.discoveryplace.org/explore/events/a-day-in-the-life-integrative-therapies. The workshop will begin at 10 a.m. Discovery Place Science is located at 301 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.

Brooklyn Media Publishing invites you out to the Carole A. Hoefener Center for the 2nd Annual Charlotte Community Health Fair & Festival. Bring the family out for a day of health screenings, cooking demonstrations, live music and much more. Celebrity fitness guru and television health expert Dr. Ivan Hernandez along with detox and nutrition advisor Amanda Gabbert will be featured as they provide insight to proper exercise, nutritional value of foods and giving tips to lead a healthier lifestyle. Admission is FREE to attend and all ages are welcome. Please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/charlotte-community-health-fairfestival-tickets-33312855648. The event will begin at 10 a.m. 610 E. 7th St. in Uptown.

Parents and kids, join Skill Builders Institute, Hope Haven, Resourceful Solutions and SociaLight, Inc. for the official Back 2 School Party! Come on down and engage the community with a day full of nonstop pre-school networking fun including FREE hygiene packs, health & wellness info, a FREE bookbag with school supplies, food, music from QC teen sensation DJ Ninja Kydd and much, much more! Admission is FREE to attend and the event will begin at 11 a.m. at The Dooby Shop. 2107 Beatties Ford Rd.

This morning, Black Business Owners of Charlotte (BBOC) for a very special seminar entitled “Getting You Certified.” BBOC has invited guest speakers from the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and the Health Department to discuss the certification process to obtain city and county contracts along with sanitation permits. There will also be a Q&A session at the end of the lesson. Admission is $5 per person. The event will begin at 11 a.m. at Venue @ 1801. 1801 N. Tryon St. #BBOC

Moxie Society is ready to start your Saturday off the fun way with the I Still The 90’s Brunch & Day Party! Come and kick it with your crew as DJ Fannie Mae and my homeboy DJ Shaun Nyce aka “The Blend King” spin an incredible arsenal of classic 90s Hip Hop, House, R&B, Soul, Reggae and Go-Go joints! The kitchen is ready to rock with a delicious Southern brunch menu and the bar is fully stocked with all sorts of drink specials, including $5 mimosas. Get there early and get ready for Charlotte’s best brunch experience! The party starts at 11 a.m. at Sports One Bar & Lounge. 521 N. College St. in Uptown. #MoxieSociety

Ladies, are you in need of a fun method to get in shape? This morning, come put some physical delight back in your life and join Turning Pointe Dance Creations for the Hip-Hop Heat Dance WERKshop! Come and learn some fly dance routines as well as getting yourselves in shape with a soundtrack of some fun and funky Hip Hop tunes that’ll definitely have those sweat beads glistening with Black Girl Magic! Your host for this class is the lovely Melissa McDaniel. No matter your dance level, everyone is welcome to participate. Admission is $12 per person and will begin at 11:30 a.m. at LacedWell. 5221 Equipment Dr., Suite “D”.

It’s time to set sail this afternoon as Moxie Society, Apartylife, Secret Society Cigar Bar & Lounge and Black Wall Street CLT proudly presents the International Boat Bash Party! Gather all your friends for a day of nonstop fun in the sun on beautiful Lake Norman. You must rent your own boat, jet ski or bring your own boat. Fellas, the ladies will be out there in full force ready to jump aboard your boat so come correct! For additional information, please call or text (404)-449-6295. Boats will leave the docks at 12 noon from Morningstar Marina. 18020 Kings Point Dr. in Cornelius.

My friends from the Single Saved & Serious Movement extend a loving invite out to the Grier Heights Community Bash this afternoon! Spend a day at one of Charlotte’s most legendary and beloved neighborhoods with family-friendly activities, games, food, vendors, community resources, CMPD engagement and much more! Admission is FREE to attend and the event will begin at 12 noon at the Grier Heights Community Center. 3100 Leroy St. #SSSMoves

Attention youth business owners — gather your parents and friends and head down to the McCrorey Family YMCA for the Youth Entrepreneur Networking Expo! This is exciting time to bring youth entrepreneurs together to network with their peers, learn about proper networking, sharing their business products and/or services, eat delicious foods, win prizes and go home with school supplies. Admission is FREE but please be sure to RSVP here: https://yenexpo.ticketleap.com/yen-expo-youth-entrepreneur-networking-expo/dates/Aug-18-2018_at_1230PM. Donations will also be accepted. The event will begin at 12:30 p.m. 3801 Beatties Ford Rd.

This afternoon, join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library as they host a brand new interactive cinematic platform entitled “The Vulnerable Black Man Film Series.” In today’s society, the Black man has been pitted against our own livelihood leaving us devoid of necessary expression of our emotions. Today, join the beautiful Angel Truesdale as she hosts a screening of the Academy Award-winning film “Moonlight.” The film takes a look inside three defining chapters in the life of Chiron, a young black man growing up in inner city Miami. His epic journey to manhood is guided by the kindness, support and love of the community that helps raise him. After the film the audience will examine how this complex identity plays out in contemporary American society with a facilitated discussion. Admission is FREE but please be sure to RSVP here: https://cmlibrary.org/event/84906-vulnerable-black-man-moonlight. The event will begin at 2 p.m. at the Main Library Branch. 310 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.

Come and learn about lifting your health to a higher plateau for a special seminar as My Green House proudly presents “In the Community: Medical Cannabis Townhall & Festival” this morning. Join NC Rep. Kelly Alexander and a group of panelists that will discuss the medical and business benefits related to medicinal cannabis, as well as the politics behind it. Come and enjoy informative information as well as food, vendors, and music following the discussion. Admission is FREE to attend. The event will begin at 2 p.m. at Three Spirits Brewery. 5046 Old Pineville Rd.

So you think you know about some drinks? The bottle is always half full and the other half is filled with the wonder of its taste. To fill you in on some of the world’s most beloved and timeless beverages, the brothers of The BEAM Foundation invite you out to a special class entitled The ABC’S of Bourbon this evening. Did you know that there is a “right” way and a “wrong” way to taste bourbon? Did you know every bourbon is a whiskey, but not every whiskey is a bourbon? Did you know Bourbon is served straight, over ice, diluted with water or soda and can even be used in cooking? You’ll learn all this and more as you will enjoy a refreshing bourbon punch and be introduced to three bottles from the Old Forester range in great style. A vinyl soundtrack of classic Soul, Jazz and R&B grooves will be setting the mood from a special guest DJ. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fundraiser-summer-educational-series-bourbon-whiskey-scotch-tasting-tickets-47976468910. The event will begin at 4 p.m. at the Alpha Phi Alpha Beta Nu Lambda Chapter House. 5639 Beatties Ford Rd.

Need some House in your life? Not to worry, I got you! Head on down to Crown Station and join The Hit Agency in conjunction with RELEASE! Classic & Soulful Ent. and Chicago Clique CLT for the August session of Chosen Life CLT! Experience 360 degrees of hard-hitting, soul-snatching House, Deep House, Funk, Soul and Downtempo grooves from TheFREEZ Project, RELEASE!’s own “Jackmaster” Gary Wallace, Melodious Funk, DJ Clash and Chosen Few DJs’ Tony Hatchett who will all add a touch of Afro Deep House flavor to the mix! So gather your friends, your whistles and tambourines and get ready to party! The jump off is at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 before 9 p.m., $10 before midnight and $15 after midnight. Crown Station is located at 3629 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.

The spirit of the Motherland makes continues to heat up Summer as The Bantu Fête Team proudly presents “AfroPop Charlotte Vol. 24!” Come represent your dancing spirits as my good brothers The Dynamic DJ Kato and DJ Steel Wheel bust out with the best of Afrobeat, AfroHouse, Soca, DanceHall, Afro-Trap, and so much more! Also, be sure to shop from a bevy of local vendors and get there early to learn some quick and easy Kizomba dance lessons provided by Kizomba Charlotte! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/afropop-charlotte-vol24-afrobeats-soca-fashion-vendors-tickets-48525401783. The party starts at 9 p.m. The Morehead Tavern is located at 300 E. Morehead St. in Uptown. #AfricanaConnections #WelcomeToTheTribe

——-SUNDAY, AUGUST 19——-

The energy from AfroPop still carries on into today as The Culture Cooperative invites you out for the third revolution of the Jerk Chicken N’ Waffles Sunday Brunch! Enjoy this tropical spin on your Sunday brunch as sound crafters The Dynamic DJ Kato and DJ Heff blend a sonic cocktail of Afrobeats, Hip Hop, House, Soca, Reggae, Dancehall and much more! There will be a special Caribbean-inspired brunch menu, mimosas and other drink specials and lots of other goodies! Please be sure to RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jerk-chicken-n-waffles-sunday-brunch-mangos-at-noda-tickets-48871544104. The event will begin at 11 a.m. at Mango’s Caribbean Restaurant. 3112 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.

Everyone slide out to C3 Lab this afternoon as Charlotte Film Society proudly presents a screening of “Bike Beyond.” In Summer 2017, Team Bike Beyond completed an epic, 10-week adventure, pedaling from New York City to San Francisco. The international team of 20 are all living with Type 1 Diabetes. As they journeyed across the country, they destroyed stereotypes and showed the world what living beyond Type 1 looks like. The team educated people on the warning signs of Type 1 and what it means to thrive with the chronic illness. They also raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Type 1 diabetes cure research. There will be a cocktail hour before the screening and a Q&A session following the film. Admission is FREE but please be sure to RSVP here: kori@fft1.org. The event will begin at 4 p.m. C3 Lab is located at 2525 Distribution St. in Historic South End.

This afternoon, slide out to Tip Top Daily Market for a special sonic brunch entitled Scrambled Eggs! Come and relax as DJs Luke Stemmerman and Flock of Slagles sets the mood with a selection of avant-garde Dub, Reggae, Fusion, Soul and Jazz tunes from their own personal vinyl collections. Also, be sure to grab a tasty mimosa from the bar, enjoy some fresh-grilled food and be sure to scoop some sounds from the newly-minted record store in the back! Admission is FREE and the event will begin at 2 p.m. 2902 The Plaza Rd. in the Plaza-Midwood District.

Ladies, gather your girlfriends and get plugged in at Small Talk @ ZEN this afternoon. “Small Talk” is a series of all female gatherings, both intimate and informative in nature, that occur at ZEN, a creative studio near uptown Charlotte. Each month, 10 women are invited to participate in one of 12 interactive workshops that relate to women of color and their experiences. A sister circle of sorts, Small Talks feature knowledgeable presenters excited to share their expertise. Your guest is the lovely Venita Jassey presenting the topic of the day entitled, “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Rules The World.” Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/small-talk-zen-with-venita-jassey-tickets-48922225694. The event will begin at 3 p.m. ZEN is located at 604 W. Morehead St. near Uptown.

Summer is a time to enjoy the fruits of nature to the fullest – cool people, fresh wine and delicious vegetation. This afternoon, you’ll get to experience all three as Step N Style Special Events & Catering cordially invites you to the final installment of the Summer Salads & Wine Series! The astoundingly beautiful chef Natalie D. Joseph will demonstrate how to prepare some crowd-pleasing, appealing Summertime salads to share. She will also help you choose the perfect wine to pair with your amazing salad choice. This is perfect for the person that can’t cook but would love to prepare something different and amazing for their significant other, or just a date night. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/summer-salads-wine-series-tickets-46885048442. The location of the event will be provided upon ticket purchase.

Do you need a calming option to center yourselves before the upcoming work week? Join Peace Filled Mama at Dupp & Swat for another relaxing session of the Weekend Wind Down. Host and yoga instructor Kelley Carboni-Woods as she guide you along a series of community-oriented breathing exercises and stretches to empower yourselves, achieve wellness, balance, affirmation, truth and light. All ages and levels are welcome. Admission is $5 per person. Please dress comfortably. The session will begin at 6:30 p.m. Dupp & Swat is located at 2521 The Plaza Rd.